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Schizophrenia can trigger distressing symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.

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If you have schizophrenia, you may experience psychotic episodes like hallucinations and delusions, both of which can cause distress and disorientation. These symptoms can make it hard to hold a job, maintain relationships, or handle everyday tasks, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

The first line of treatment for the symptoms of schizophrenia are antipsychotic medications. But a 2015 study in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment found that using positive coping strategies to deal with your symptoms can also improve your quality of life.

Strategies for Hallucinations

Hallucinations — seeing, hearing, or smelling something that isn’t there — are a common symptom for people with schizophrenia; oftentimes, people will “hear voices,” which can sometimes be threatening. If you recognize that you’re experiencing a hallucination, use these strategies to cope with one:

Distract yourself. A 2007 study published in the journal Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences found that many people with schizophrenia cope with hallucinations by listening to music or watching TV. The study authors noted, however, that listening to music tended to be more effective.

Practice acceptance.Accepting that the voices are part of life for a person with schizophrenia may have positive emotional effects, according to a 2007 study in the journal Clinical Psychological Review. But some researchers suggest that the danger of acceptance is that the hallucinations may start to consume your life.

Try mindfulness.This means paying attention to the present; in this case, increasing your awareness of your schizophrenia symptoms and learning how to accept or disengage from them, according to the study in Clinical Psychological Review. An example of this is called Acceptance and Commitment. With this philosophy, the person agrees to acknowledge the voices but does not agree to accept guidance from them.

Start a conversation with someone.Similar to the strategy of distracting yourself, talking to another person can be an effective way to cope with a hallucination, according to the study in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences.

Use avatar therapy.Those with schizophrenia may be able to control the hallucinations by creating a computer-generated avatar representing the negative voices, according to a 2017 study in the journal The Lancet. The study authors found that people who participated in the avatar therapy experienced fewer hallucinations and distress than those who participated in supportive counseling sessions.

Strategies for Delusions

Delusions, or irrational and false beliefs, are another common symptom of schizophrenia. People who are experiencing delusions may believe that their lives are in danger or that someone is trying to harm them, for example, says the NIMH. Here are some techniques that may help:

Ask for help.Some people with schizophrenia seek out the company of friends and family when they are experiencing delusions. Friends and family can help by providing a distracting activity, or even just a listening ear. People may also seek professional help, and research has found cognitive therapy can help many people cope with schizophrenia symptoms.

Control your surroundings.Certain environments, situations, or other stimuli may increase delusional thoughts, such as persecutory delusions (feeling you are being followed, harassed, or otherwise persecuted) and grandiose delusions (believing you are very powerful or important).

Practice religion, meditation, or other mind-body activities.People who are religious believers report using prayer or meditation to help deal with their active schizophrenia symptoms. A 2012 study in the International Journal of Yoga found that yoga therapy could may reduce psychotic symptoms, lower depression, and boost quality of life in people with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia Symptoms: Family Reaction

While hallucinations and delusions may not always upset the person with schizophrenia, they are always very real. So how loved ones react to these symptoms is important. Without meaning to, loved ones can cause distress by betraying fear or worry, or by dismissing the person’s experience.

Family therapy can help the loved ones of a person with schizophrenia know how to react when schizophrenia symptoms manifest themselves, according to the NIMH. It can also teach families about warning signs that their loved one may be using damaging coping mechanisms, like self-medicating with illicit drugs or alcohol.

No matter how you or your loved one with schizophrenia chooses to handle these distressing symptoms, don't be afraid to talk to your doctor or another healthcare provider for help. There are resources available and effective ways to cope with this often difficult disease.